WCC News: Nuns file Indigenous rights resolution related to Citigroup

The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Catholic nuns located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (US), have spent the past four years filing shareholder resolutions related to Citigroup, urging the parent company of one of the world’s largest investment banks to rethink its financial ties to fossil fuel projects that harm Indigenous communities. Sister Susan Francois, part of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Catholic nuns located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (US). Photo: courtesy of Sr Susan Francois 15 April 2025 The lending giant has often brushed the sisters off. But on 7 March , the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled in their favor, clearing the way for the sisters’ shareholder resolution on Indigenous rights to proceed at Citi’s annual meeting on 29 April. Sr Susan Francois, part of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, said there was no question that Citi tried to prevent its investors from having their say. “After we filed the proposal, we received a no-action letter from Citigroup, claiming they have already substantially implemented our request,” she explained. "While it is true that they issued a report last year claiming to address Indigenous rights—without any communication or input from us—the document merely restated their actions without any evaluation of effectiveness.” The document also failed to measure these actions against internationally recognized standards, added Francois. “Indigenous leaders, who were also not consulted, expressed their disappointment when the report was released,” she said. “The report in fact highlights how the bank is failing to act on risks to Indigenous rights: of the 16 companies it flags as posing risks, none have been refused funding or services by the bank.” Of the 37 projects which the bank identified as posing a risk to Indigenous rights, Citi refused funding for just seven. “This is why we felt it necessary to file our proposal this year for the fourth time,” said Francois. “We appealed the no-action letter to the SEC.” The SEC rejected Citi's attempt to prevent investors from having their say, stating, “Based on the information you have presented, it appears that the Company’s public disclosures do not substantially implement the proposal.”   This means, Francois said, that the SEC has backed shareholders and allowed the vote to go ahead on the sisters’ resolution, which aims to assess the bank’s effectiveness in mitigating risk to investors when it comes to harming Indigenous Peoples and their lands.  “Citi was clearly trying to silence shareholders, but it is important that investors have their say and express their views on this important issue,” said Francois. Decades of work The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace began this work almost 50 years ago. “In 1976, we filed a resolution with Colgate-Palmolive to challenge the stereotypical portrayal of women in their advertisements,” she said. “We collaborate with other religious congregations through our partners—Investor Advocates for Social Justice and the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment.” The investors then use our shares to advocate for corporate practices that support economic justice, racial justice, and human rights through corporate resolutions, proxy voting, and dialogues with companies such as Citigroup, Ford, Microsoft, PNC Bank, and Tyson. “Our faith teaches us that we must use our blessings and resources to promote the common good,” she said. “Our care for God's people and Earth, our common home, is not limited to our prayer but must also be witnessed through action.” In the context of this case and ones like it, Francois believes that prayer leads to action—and action leads to prayer. “We seek to promote social justice as path to peace, using not only our rights and responsibilities as citizens of our two countries through political advocacy, but also as investors through shareholder advocacy,” she said. “During this moral moment in our world, our ecumenical family is needed more than ever to speak up for Gospel values not only with our words, but in prayer, and actions.” What people of faith can do Francois believes that, as people of faith, we are called to be in solidarity with those most impacted by policies and practices that harm people and Earth. “Faith leaders are on the ground, standing in solidarity with the people of God,” she said. “We hear the stories—the pain and sorrowful ones and the ones of joy and hope.” She urged all people of good will to keep lifting up these stories and working for the common good. “And of course, we appreciate the prayerful support of our ecumenical faith community for the success of our efforts,” she said. “Together, pursuing justice, we seek God's gift of peace.”   Churches and partners who would like to join the World Council of Churches project on climate litigation are invited to send a note to churchesforchildren@wcc-coe.org. WCC’s new climate justice tools bring hope for children (WCC news release, 10 April 2025) Publication "Hope for Children Through Climate Justice: Legal Tools to Hold Financiers Accountable" Learn more about Churches’ Commitments to Children and Climate-Responsible Banking See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland